Apparatus for exhibiting merchandise.



No. 729,563; PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

"r. R. FIELD.

APPARATUS FOR EXHIBITING MERCHANDISE.

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No. 729,563. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

T. R. FIELD.

APPARATUS FOR. EXHIBITING MERCHANDISE.

APPLIOA'IION FILED OCT. 27, 1902.

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PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903-.

T. R. FIELD.

APPARATUS FOR EXHIBITING MERCHANDISE.

' APPLIOATION FILED 001-27, 1902.

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"UNITED; STAT-es Patented June 2, 1903.

P TENT APPARATUS FOR EXHIBITING MERCHANDISE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,563, dated June 2, 1903.

Application filed October 2'7, 1902. Serial No. 128,906. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,THOMAS R. FIELD, a ci tizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forExhibiting Merchandise, of which the following is a specification.

In dry goods establishments, where stocks of lace curtains, carpets, wall paper, and fabrics and webs of various kinds are to be displayed to customers, considerable difficulty is experienced in storing, handling, and exhibiting, such articles.

It is the object of my invention to provide an apparatus of a compact, simple, and inexpensive, character, by the aid of which Iner- .chandise of the foregoing and other character, may be very conveniently exhibited to customers in such manner as toreadily enable a comparison of one article with another, and which apparatus shall enable the removal of old samples and the substitution of new.

with the minimum of trouble.

In the accompanying drawings I show, and herein I describe, a good form of a convenient embodiment of my invention. It is to be understood that in'the embodiment of my invention, resort may be had to other forms and arrangements, without departure from its spirit.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a View in face elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the same, section being supposed on the dotted line 2-2 of Figure 1.

In the accompanying drawings,

1 indicates the ceiling and 2 the floor of an apartment. 3 represents a box-like structure or casing suspended from the ceiling, the side, end, and top, walls of which may be rigidly related or united. The right hand side wall of the box or casing extends below the'body of the casing to form a support for certain operating mechanism.

4 is a lid which may be hingedly connected to the lower edge of one of the side walls.

5 are fastening devices by which the lid may be temporarily secured in closed position.

6, 7, 8, are three independent panels of any suitable material, which I desire to employ when lace curtains'for example are to be exhibited, and which panels are, for such use, preferably formed of heavy dark colored fabric, such as green baize, of length and breadth slightly less than the length and breadth of one of the side Walls of the box 3.

When the panels are of fabric, I prefer to secure each, as to its upper edge, to a carrying rod or holder 9. The carrying rod or holder 9, or any proper device, may be employed for supporting the article to be displayed.

10, 11, 12, are three flexible connections which pass from the interior to the exterior of the casing; conveniently each consists of a pair of light cords or the like, the outer ends of which flexible connections are respectively connected with the winding drums 13, 14, 15, while their intermediateportions pass through the elevated eyes 16, 17.

One of said flexible connections is employed in association with each panel or holder, and the twoinner ends of each connection are respectively connected with the respective ends or end portions of its associated panel or holder.

The ends of said flexible connections which are attached to the distant ends of the panels or to the holders pass through the eyes 18. The two cords of each flexible connection constitute, as to their outer portions which run about the drums, practically one cord.

19 are counterweights attached to the outer portions of the flexible connections. 20 is a shaft mounted for rotationin suitable brackets arranged upon the downward prolongation of the right hand end wall of the casing 3, and provided at one end with a crank, and any usual form of pawl and ratchet 30.

Upon and normally free for rotation as well as for longitudinal movement with respect to the shaft 20, are mounted the winding drums 13, 14, and 15.

21 are a series of clutch members mounted upon and fixed with respect to said shaft. The three winding-drums 13, 14, and 15, are each provided with a hub 22 having an annular groove, indicated by the dotted line 23 in Figure 5, in each of which grooves is mounted a ring 24: formed in two parts or halves as shown in Figure 5, from opposite sides of each of which rings extend trunnions or the like 25, with which trunnions are respectively pivotally engaged the ears of a forked lever 26.

The handles or throw arms of the levers 26 are, intermediate of their length, pivotally connected to a common support 27. 28 is a crank-arm connected to the shaft 20.

The opposing faces of each drum hub 22 and its associated fixed clutch member 21 are matched or conformed to each other so that when by the throw of a lever handle or arm, a drum and its hub are thrown to the left, the end face of said hub will engage with or be engaged by the opposing face of the associated clutch member 21, being thereby locked to the shaft, and thereupon, upon the rotation of the shaft 20, said drum will be caused to rotate with said shaft.

The operation of the device will be readily understood.

Normally the panels or holders all remain in elevated position within the casing 3, and the lid 4 is kept closed. When the panels or holders are in elevated position, the outer end portions of the flexible connections are wound upon the drums, and the counterweights are down in the vicinity of the drums. The counterweights are intended to balance the panels or holders, so that the raising and lowering of said panels or holders may be very easily and readily accomplished.

When it is desired to exhibit a panel or a given article supported by the holder, for instance that designated 7, the lid 4 is opened, that portion of the flexible connection 11 united with said panel or article, and appearing upon the exterior of the casing and above the drum 14, is elevated, or shifted longitudinally upward, said flexible connection uncoiling from the drum, on which it has been wound, and which drum is either free, or has been made free, from its associated clutch member 21.

When the portion of the flexible connection 11 which appears upon the exterior of the casing and above the drum 14 has moved longitudinally upward to such an extent that the panel or article has descended to the desired position, such panel or article may be and is held in that position by moving the clutch member into engagement with the drum about which the flexible connection is coiled.

As said flexible connection is fed upward, the panel 7, or article supported by the holder and to be exhibited, of course, descends into view through the open lower end of the box. Then, after the lace or othersamples mounted upon the panel 7 or holder have been viewed by the purchaser or inspector, another panel or article supported by a holder, may, by manipulation of its flexible connection, be also caused to descend into view.

Ordinarily, in exhibiting the samples of a series of panels or holders, the rearmost panel 8 or article to be exhibited would be the first caused to descend, then the panel or articles next in front of it, and so on. If, however, it is desired to first exhibit the samples on panel or holder 7, it may be lowered, and, if it afterward be desired to exhibit the samples on panel or holder 8, the latter may be lowered and the panel 7 elevated.

When a number of the panels or articles have been lowered in the manner above indicated, and when the respective clutch members are in engagement with their associated drums, all of the panels may be simultaneously elevated by the rotation of the shaft 20 upon which the drums and clutches are mounted, as is obvious.

I prefer to provide the face of each panel with the series of vertically extending lines 31 to subdivide its area into a number of divisions, each of which is adapted to receive one curtain or the like.

Each panel, as will be understood, carries a considerable number of patterns, which, for convenience, may be all of one price, or all of one general pattern, or be characterized by some feature in common. The presentation of a series of patterns upon a single panel enables a very ready and convenient means of making a com parison between them.

The panels, remaining as they do in flat position, occupy but little space, and a large number of them may be contained in a box of comparatively slight thickness.

From the face of a panel upon which they are mounted, the individual patterns or samples may be readily removed to be re placed by others. The casing protects the samples very thoroughly against access of dust, and may be readily transported from place to place. A very important feature is that when the casing is in position within an apartment, its

proportions may be such that when all the panels are elevated into position within it, the floor space of the apartment will be left unoccupied so that travel to and fro beneath the box need not be interrupted, and said space beneath the box may be used for purposes other than the exhibition of the goods contained within the box.

The casing may be manifestly so arranged within a compartment that its depending right hand end wall will exist in the vicinity of one of the apartment walls,-and will thus IIO - apartment.

not form an obstruction in the body of said The hooks and eyes 29 furnish a convenient means for suspending the casing from the ceiling. The casing may be made of any size and arranged to accommodate any desired number of the panels, and

I prefer in practice to provide it With a number largely in excess of the three illustrated. As will be understood, the panels are of a special use when articles such as lace curtains or the like are to be exhibited, inasmuch as such articles are best exhibited against such a back ground as the panels constitute. Said panels are also very useful where small articles such as handkerchiefs are to be exhibited, and which may in considerable numbers be very conveniently secured upon them. 7 Where, however, articles ofother character, such for example as lengths of carpet, of cloth, and merchandiseof other characterwhichmay be readily attached to a rod or other merchandise support without the intermediation of the panels, are to be exhibited, said panels may be dispensed with.

In Figure 6 of the drawings, I have illustrated a mode in which lengths of carpet, for example, may be attached to the rod or holder constituting a merchandise supporting device through the intermediation of hooks mounted in the latter. It is manifest that the merchandise'may be connected to the merchandise supporting device in any desired manner.

To each of the rods or other holders, a single article, or a group of articles, may be secured, each such article or group of articles being with its holdercapable of being lowered independently of the otl1ers,-and in the claims I use the word unit as covering either such a single article or group of articles as in the operation of the apparatus may be raised or lowered regardless of the others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In an apparatus for exhibiting merchan dise, in combination, a boxing or casing adapted to be suspended in elevated position and having an opening in its bottom, means for closing said opening, a series of merchandise supporting devices mounted in said boxing or casing, a series of flexible connections attached respectively to the respective merchandise supporting devices andextending to the exterior of the box or casing, eyes in the upper portion of the box or casing through which said flexible connections pass, and means for securing said flexible connections in diflerent positions of longitudinal adjustment.

2. In an apparatus for exhibiting merchandise, in combination, a boxing or casing adapted to be suspended in elevated position and having an opening in its bottom, means for closing said opening, a series of merchandise supporting devices mounted in said boxing or casing, a series of flexible connections attached respectively to the respective merchandise supporting devices and extending to the exterior of the box or casing, eyes in the upper portion of the box or casing through which said flexible connections pass, means 'for securing said flexible connections in difbottom, flexible connections, attached to saidsupporting devices, extending through said eyes, the outer portions of which connections are arranged upon the exterior of the box or casing, and devices to secure the flexible connections and supporting devicesin diiferent positions of adjustment, substantially as set forth.

. 4.. In an apparatus for exhibiting merchandise, a box or'casing, a series of merchandise supporting devices mounted in said casing, a series of flexible connections connected with said devices and leading to the exterior of the box or casing, a shaft, a series of drums mounted on said shaft, one of the flexible connections being engaged with each drum, and means for locking said drums fast to the shaft, substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus for exhibiting merchandise, a box or casing, a series of merchandise supporting devices, a shaft, a series of drums mounted free for movement on said shaft, flexible connections connective of the respective drums and the respective merchandise supporting devices, elevated eyes through of engagement with its associated fixed clutch member.

6. In an apparatus for exhibiting lace curtains or the like, in combination, acasinghaving an open bottom, a series of panels, and clutches for supporting said panels in different positions of vertical adjustment with respect to said box or casing, in one of which positions said panels are contained within said boxing or casing, and in another of which they extend below said boxing or casing, sub- IIO 8. In an apparatus for exhibiting lace curtains or the like, in combination, a boxing or casing adapted to be suspended in elevated position and having an openingin its bottom, means for closing said opening, a series of panels mounted in said boxing or casing, a series of panel supporting flexible connections attached respectively to the respective panels and extending to the exterior of the box or casing, eyes in the upper portion of the box or casing through which said flexible connections pass, and means for securing said flexible connections in diflerent positions of longitudinal adjustment.

9. In an apparatus for exhibiting lace curtains or the like, in combination, a boxing or casing adapted to be suspended in elevated position and having an opening in its bottom, means for closing said opening, a series of panels mounted in said boxing or casing, a series of panel supporting flexible connections attached respectively to the respective panels and extending to the exterior of the box or casing, eyes in the upper portion of the box or casing through which said flexible connections pass, means for securing said flexible connections in different positions of longitudinal adj ustment, and counterweights mounted on said flexible connections.

10. In an apparatus for exhibitinglace curtains or the like,a box or casing,eyes arranged at the upper portion of said box or casing, a series of panels contained Within said box or casing, said box or casing being so arranged as to permit the descent of said panels through its bottom, flexible connections, attached to said panels, extending through said eyes, the outer portions of which connections are arranged upon the exterior of the box or casing, and devices to secure the flexible connections and the panels in different positions of adjustment, substantially as set forth.

11. In an apparatus for exhibiting lace curtains or the like, a box or casing, a series of panels mounted in said casing, a series of flexible connections connected with said panels and leading to the exterior of the box or casing, a shaft, a series of drums mounted on said shaft, one of the flexible connections being engaged with each drum, and means for locking said dru ms fast to the shaft, substantially as set forth.

12. In an apparatus for exhibiting lace curtains or the like, a box or casing, a series of panels, a shaft, 2. series of drums mounted free for movement on said shaft, flexible connections connective of the respective drums and the respective panels, elevated eyes through which said flexible connections pass, clutch members fixed to said shaft and adapted to engage each with a drum, and means for throwing individual drums each into and out of engagement with its associated fixed clutch member.

13. In an apparatus for exhibiting lace curtains or the like, a box or casing, a series of panels, a shaft, a series of drums mounted free for movement on said shaft, flexible connections connective of the respective drums and the respective panels, elevated eyes through which said flexible connections pass, clutch members fixed to said shaft and adapted to engage each with a drum, means for throwing individual drums each into and out of engagement with its associated fixed clutch member, said shaft,drums, and clutch members being mounted upon the exterior of the box or casing.

14. In an apparatus for exhibiting lace curtains or the like, a box or casing having a-lidprovided open bottom, a series of panels arranged Within said box or casing, a windingshaft mounted upon the exterior of said box or casing, a series of drums corresponding to the number of the panels mounted on said shaft, means for locking said drums fast to said shaft, flexible connections extending from the respective drums to the respective panels, eyes arranged in the upper portion of the box or casing through which the respective flexible connections pass, and counterweights connected with the respective flexible connections.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention I have hereunto signed my name this 23d day of October, A. D. 1902.

THOMAS R: FIELD.

In presence of S. SALOME BROOKE, THos. K. LANCASTER. 

